PPS Method Question

[rufeelinitnowmrkrabs]

Hi all, I’m unsure if this is the correct thread to post under. I haven’t purchased or adopted crabs in years, I wasn’t aware there was such a method. I kinda just put him in my tank and he’s been fine ever since (I’ve had him for around 10+ish years).

I’m not purchasing or adopting any crabs, but I was just curious for when/if I do in the future.

1. Do you personally use the PPS method?

2. Is the PPS method really necessary if the crab is coming from a decent environment? (e.g., ideal temp & humidity).

3. If you have done the PPS method, have you gotten better results compared to not doing the method? (Just introducing the crab to your ideal tank).

TIA!!


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[JoeHermits]

I don’t use the PPS method. My newbies have always gone straight in regardless of previous conditions.

The method itself is based on veterinary emaciation protocol for reptiles. However, vets raise temperature over a period of hours, not days, and full humidity immediately. Most hermit crabs are also not emaciated in the first place since food and water are usually available regardless of setup.

Impromptu experiments have been done by various crabbing groups but they don’t all agree on the method’s effectiveness. For now the HCA’s official stance is that the method only complicates new arrivals.

In many cases it’s putting off the molt that does the most damage, so having new crabs put it off even longer doesn’t help. Risk of PPS significantly decreases once the first molt is completed.


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[rufeelinitnowmrkrabs]

I don’t use the PPS method. My newbies have always gone straight in regardless of previous conditions.

The method itself is based on veterinary emaciation protocol for reptiles. However, vets raise temperature over a period of hours, not days, and full humidity immediately. Most hermit crabs are also not emaciated in the first place since food and water are usually available regardless of setup.

Impromptu experiments have been done by various crabbing groups but they don’t all agree on the method’s effectiveness. For now the HCA’s official stance is that the method only complicates new arrivals.

In many cases it’s putting off the molt that does the most damage, so having new crabs put it off even longer doesn’t help. Risk of PPS significantly decreases once the first molt is completed.


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Thank you so much for the info! Very interesting, they sure are fascinating little guys. I appreciate the detailed response


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[aussieJJDude]

I know crabbers that swear by it, but I honestly dont support the method but understand that its a 'different strokes for different folks' situation.

From an aquarist perspective, doing something like a PPSD method is far more harmful than getting the fish/inverts in good conditions stat, and most experienced aquarists would never advise keeping a fish in a toxic environment (temp or water quality) and slowly adjusting unless its not life threatening. Its easier to deal with shock in good conditions than it is to deal in subpar conditions.

My responce from HCA fb page - including typos :

By the same token, some do swear by the PPSD method.... just like some that don't.

Me personally, I'd rather get them in good conditions as soon as possible rather than prolonging bad conditions. My view comes from fish, where if the fish is in really bad conditions, it can be a lot less harmful just getting them into good water (and dealing with the shock) compared to just slowly acclimatising the animals and leading to their death as they kept in sub par conditions. I've just fish arrive at my job half frozen from shipping, half full of dead fish. You best believe I netted the survivors (barely... but still alive) and got them in filtered and heated waters STAT with not acclimatisation. Most advanced (aka been in the hobby for a while) aquarists would suggest similar, and can attest, death rate was negligible compared to a slow temp/drip acclimation.

Here we have found that PPSD simply just doesn't work, and there's really no benefit. Of course, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but generally, yes, we do encourage people not to do it as from what we've seen over the years, it does more harm than good. Does that mean we want everyone not to do it? No. But simply if asked on HCA, you may get an overwhelming majority suggest against doing so here compared to other groups.

Anyone that tells you that its simply down to science so you must do these certain methodologies is really painting a bad picture of what science is. There is really no group that is backed by 'science' as all groups are run by hobbyists for hobbyists, however many may use scientific findings as a way to suggest proper care. There's nothing wrong with using scientific principles, but do keep in mind it's really a matter of opinion how the group interpret said science findings. (This is primarily the reason why HCA will have recommendations, however, we do try and acknowledge crabbers may have their own methods that work for them. Biology and rules don't coexist, and there will always be exceptions to the rule. Anyone who says biological systems are black or white and no 'shades of grey'.... they obviously haven't studied biology in any depth )

There's been instances of crabs holding off moults for so long, that even in when kept in bad conditions or slowly being acclimated to ideal (eg: during PPSD) they did a surface moult. Crabs can only be forced to hold off a moult for so long before they literally forced to moult. Which for me, doubles down on the process being an unnecessary effort thats just better spent on getting them food, water, substrate and letting them do their thing.

[wodesorel]

I've rescued and pity purchased some 200+ crabs over the years, and had much better survival rates getting them straight into proper conditions. Isolating is never a bad choice, especially with crabs who are injured or psychologically unstable. It gives them the space and the time to change shells and eat without going into a panic over resources. It also allows for molting with zero chance of accidents, which is important with crabs who are in a delicate state. A healthy crab can survive an accident in a main crabitat here and there, but for a crab in a fragile state it can be too much.

What I end up doing now is isolating in a second enclosure that has all the basics (temp, humidity, substrate), and if they are still up and moving after a few days I move them over to my main tank. If they dig in to molt - which most do within the first day, often within the first hour! - then they will be secure for a couple of months until they are done.

[JTKermie]

I know after a bunch of reading and video watching, I had intended to PPS method my crabs, but after reading here and following my fish keeping background, I couldn't bring myself to do it.

Of the 6 crabs I have, I haven't lost any that I know of since I got (back) into this the right way in Sept 2021. Two little guys that came up from a molt are pretty funny. They are quite active during the day. I've never seen more than 2-3 out and about day/night at this point. I have a wyze cam in one tank.

[curlysister]

I totally agree with the other responses above. Also wanted to add, re- your question about a crab who is coming from good conditions. Even for those who use the method, one should never go 'backwards' with conditions. It doesn't make good sense, and could be detrimental to put a crab in worse conditions that it came from.

[rufeelinitnowmrkrabs]

Thank you everyone for your insight, I’ve read through all your comments and I appreciate all your responses!


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